Welding device



May 10, 1949. M. J. MANNING 2,470,074

' WELDING DEVICE Filed May s, 194e v 2 shee-sneet 1 ,/l// Nazzhew Manning ZO A l y BY Z 4% ATTORNEY lll M. J. MANNING WELDING DEVICE May 10, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR i Naiw J Nannmg ATTORNEY Filed May 3, 1946 Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELDING DEVICE Matthew J. Manning, East Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 3, 1946, Serial N0. 666,893

5 Claims. l

The invention relates to a welding device, and more specifically, to that type of spot welding equipment which permits of two strokes of diiTerent length of a movable electrode, one normal short stroke between adjacent weld points, and one long stroke permitting the passage between the movable and the stationary electrode of projecting reinforcements and the like.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a welding device or machine of the indicated type which holds the movable electrode rmly in proper alignment with the stationary electrode, which issimple and durable in construction, which permits of easy assembly, disassembly and inspection, which allows adjustment of the length of the strokes, and which is capable of substantially greater welding speed than comparable prior-art devices.

A specic object of the invention is the improvement of welding devices having a number of cylinders and pistons arranged in series, the one behind the other, and acting upon the movable electrode to move the same against the Work or retract it therefrom, and having separate guiding means for movably holding the movable electrode.

The above objects of the invention are mainly achieved by combining with the reciprocating fluid motors for moving the electrodes toward each other, a further reciprocating motor of greatly decreased diameter as compared with the diameter of said rst-named motors.

The features of the invention as well as its details, advantages and objects will be more clearly understood from the illustration of an embodiment in the attached drawing and from the following description thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a stationary welding machine with a movable electrode device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on a larger scale through the operating device for the movable electrode, the section being taken in a plane behind the plane of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view partly in section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 viewed in the direction of the arrows on the section line and with part of the guiding means for the movable electrode ref moved; and

The illustrated machine comprises a frame or pedestal 5 carrying rigidly but adjustably an arm 6 for the stationary electrode 'I and provided with a second arm 8 for the movable electrode 9.

The movable electrode 9 is mounted on a bar I0 connected by ilexible conductor I I to the secondary of the welding transformer (not shown) and secured with the interposition of current insulation I3 (see Fig. 2) by bolts and nuts I4 to the bottom ilange I5 of a cylinder I6.

The cylinder I 6 has a closed upper end wall Il and at least three plane surfaces on its outside extending parallel to the axis of the cylinder and engaged by a corresponding number of upper rolls I8 and I9 and lower rolls 20 and 2I. The axes of these rolls extend parallel to said plane surfaces and transversely to the axis of the cylinder I6. Rollers I8 and 20 are rotatably supported by a hollow casing 22 secured to arm 8 of the machine frame, Whereas the rollers I9 and 2l are rotatably supported by a cover plate 23 secured removably by screws 24 to the aforesaid casing and forming, when mounted, a part thereof. Said surfaces of the cylinder I6 and the rollers I8 to 2| floatingly guide the cylinder while retaining it firmly and permitting only substantially linear reciprocal movement in the direction of the cylinder axis.

The lower end of the wall of cylinder I6 (Figs. 2 and 4) is provided with a longitudinal slot 25 through which extends a ilat bracket or stop 26 arranged on edge and secured outside the cylinder to the casing 22. A floating piston 2l with a piston rod 28 and a guide disc 29 a-t the other end of the piston rod is movable in the interior of the cylinder and has the lower end of the rod 28 resting against the bracket 26.

A passage 30 in the upper wall Il of the cylinder is connected by a flexible conduit and pipes 3I to a three-Way hand-operated valve 82 adapted for connecting the interior of the cylinder above the piston 2'I either with a compressed-air conduit 33 or with an exhaust pipe 34.

It is obvious that compressed air admitted to 'the cylinder I6 will endeavor to move the latter upwardly into engagement with the end wall 35 of the casing 22, the reaction being taken up by piston 21, piston rod 28, and bracket 25. Upon establishment of communication between the interior of the cylinder I6 and the exhaust 34, the cylinder I6 with the electrode 9 will drop down by its own weight.

A second cylinder 36 is secured to the top Wall 35 of the housing 22 by means of stay bolts 31 extending through the cylinder top plate 38 (Figs. 1 and 3.) A single-acting piston 39 is movable in the lower part of the cylinder 36 and connected with a downwardly extending piston rod 40 which is guided in an opening of the end wall 35 and engages the end wall I1 of the cylinder I6.

A second double-acting piston 4| is arranged in the upper par-t of the cylinder 36 and connected with a long upwardly extending piston rod 42 having anint'erior passage 4'3 and having the upper'end 'of its cuter surface screw threaded at 44. The rod 42 is uid tightly guided in the cylinder end wall 38.

A fluid passage in the cylinder head 3S communicates through a conduit 45 and a second three-way valve 4B with either lthe compressed air supply line 33 or an exhaust pipe 41. Said passage opens into a cylindrical chamber 48 coaxial with but of less diameter than the'cylinder 36 and adapted to receive extension 49 of the piston 4| during the last part of the latters upward stroke. The purpose of this arrangement -is that a certain amount of air will be trapped abovethe :main portion'cf the 'piston lil during the last part fof thelstroke `to have a cushioning effect.

If 'compressed air is'admitted through theaconduit 45, itnot only acts upon 'the top'surface of Vthe extension 491but also the'up'per lsurface of the entire piston 4I on accountof a-by-pass 5i! iconitrolled by a spring-operated one-way valve The valve closes when, during the upward stroke, air is comprcssedfabove the fmain piston ill, but this valve opens 4when `compressed air is admitted through "the conduit 45.

The down :strokefof the piston lll is adjustably limited bynut 52-and lock nut 53 screw threaded -on the upper portion of the rod 42 and adapted Sto engage l'the upper end `of sleeve 38 connected with head 38 and surrounding rod 42.

The interiorof the cylinder-3f@` between the pis- 'tons v39 and 4| communicates by the central .passage 143 in rod 42, a flexible conduit 54 and ya three-way solenoid valve 55 with the outside air pipe 55 or with the compressed-air conduit 51. The conduit 51 is connected through a pres- `sure reduction `valve `58 to the compressed air supply line 33.

59 is a pressure indicator, 69 and 5I are oilers, 452 is an air lter, and `63 a main shut oif valve. The construction -of -the valves 32, 46 and 55 is not shown because they may be of any appropriate or well known construction. The means for lcontrolling the solenoid valve, which may be in the nature of a footor hand-operated switch, are also not shown. The valve d'6 may be in the form of a solenoid or other power-operated valve "to be controlled by a separate switc'h or by a Special motion of the switch controlling the valve 55.

The machine is operated as follows: At the beginning 'of the operation of the machine and constantly thereafter, compressed air is admitted by valve 32 to the interior of the cylinder IE with the effect that it, together with its electrode 9 is held in the raised position by reaction against `its piston 21 and fixed stop '26, shown in Figures 2 and 3, a's long as 'the interior of cylinder '3B is disconnected from compressed air and connected with the outside "air vthrough the valves 4E and 55. In this position the electrodes are in their most widely separated position and may be passed over flanges or other obstructions to atitain the voperating position.

The next step after 'the device has attained an 'operating position is to admit 'air to the cylinder 35 on top of piston 41 'by means of the valve 46 with the effect that :piston 4I is pushed downfward taking piston 39 with its rod 40 and cylin- 'the effect that the downward force exerted by piston 4I is substantially greater than the upward force exerted by cylinder I5.

The downward movement of the piston 4| is, as mentioned before, limited by nut 52 and the engagement thereof with the sleeve 38' forming part of the cylinder top wall 38. The position of piston 4| and its rod 42 in which the nut 52 engages the sleeve 38 is illustrated in Figure 1. In this position the electrodes 9 and 'i are spaced so far apart as to permit a workpiece to be moved between them. Depending upon the thickness of the workpiece, the nuts 52 and 53 vwill be adjusted so that the spacing between the electrodes 1 and 9 yis made smaller or larger, 'as the case may be.

After the above-described operations, theelectrodes stand close together but are not yet in operative contact with the workpiece. To clamp the electrodes upon -the workpiece for weldingfair is admitted by the solenoid valve 55 to thecylinder 35 in the space between the pistons 39 and 4I. The pressure -of this air, on account of the reduction valve 58, is less than the pressure of the Aair on top of Ipiston `4I but it 4is still 'great enough to overcome the upward pressure -in cylinder I6 of less effective area than the piston 39. The admission of air on top of piston -319 pushes the piston and its rod 49, the cylinder I5, and the electrode 9 downwardly into engagement 40 with the workpiece and the lower electrode 1 whereupon welding current is applied in thea customary manner.

-Upon completion of a weld valve 55 is again operated relieving the pressure from cylinder 36 on top of piston 39 so that electrode 9 disengages from the work on account of the upward movement of cylinder I6 under the influence of the air pressure in its interior. In moving from one weld position to another this may be the only separation necessary. It is the position shown in Fig. l.

If a bracket, cross brace, or some other projecting obstacle requires a wider spacing between the electrodes 1 and 9, valve 55 is Yoperated in addition to valve 46 so that the space above piston '4I as well as the space between pistons 39 and 4I communicates with the outside air and the cylinder i5 moves all the way up until its head I1 again engages the top wall 35 of housing 22. After passing the obstacle, the hereinbefore 'described procedure is repeated, that is, air is vad'- rnitted by a valve 45 on top of piston 4I and thereafter air of reduced pressure is admitted `on top of piston 39 by means of the solenoid valve A'55.

It will be noted also `'that vinthe illustrated e'm'- bodiment the device is free of springs, and 'that all return movements are accomplished by chinpressed air constantly admitted during the operation of the machine to the interior of the cy'linder I6. The compressed air is released from the interior of the cylinder IBonly when lth'efmachine is not operated and for the purpose of dressing the electrodes.

The fact that the electrode 9 maybe let Adovin onto the electrode 1 by simply releasingI the air from the interior of the cylinder I6 means an additional advantage of the machine because in this position the electrodes can best be dressed by moving a iile or other dressing tool between the electrodes.

All parts oi the device can easily be made, machined, adjusted, assembled and disassembled. Each oi the cylinders and pistons is of uniform cylindrical diameter, the diiferent cylinders and housings are arranged in series and can be manuactured separately and then bolted together. The whole device is of small transverse dimension and is so formed that it may rbe attached as a unit to almost any ordinary welding machine. The movable electrode is firmly guided by the plane surfaces of the cylinder i6 and the rollers i3 to 2i engaging them, that by means which reiieve completely from any bending moments the cylinders and pistons imparting the movement to the upper electrode.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrated el ccdiments but is liable to modifications ano adaptations for specific purposes within the limits expressed by the spirit and language of the attached claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a device for moving one electrode of an electric welding machine toward and away from a second electrode, a stationary cylinder having one closed, two floating pistons in said cylinder the one behind the other, means for connecting the between one piston and the closed end of the cylinder to a source of pressure uid, a second means for connecting the space between the two pistons to the same source of pressure fluid, second means including means for reducing the pressure of the pressure fluid before it enters into the space between the two pistons, and third single-acting fluid operated recipromotor of less effective area than said two pistons, means for connecting said motor to the same source of pressure fluid, said motor having a movable part engaging one of said iirst o pistons and a stationary part so that admisn pressure fluid to the motor will resiliently ose movement of said pistons under the iniuence of pressure fluid admitted to said spaces and will move said pistons toward the closed end of the cylinder if pressure fluid is released from said spaces,

2. In a device for reciprocating an electrode of an electric Welder, a cylinder adapted for connection to the electrode and having one end closed, a piston in said cylinder supported by a stationary bracket extending through an opening in the cylinder, means for admitting pressure uid into the space Abetween the piston and the closed end of the cylinder and for releasing it therefrom, stationary means engaging the outside or the cylinder for movably guiding it in the direction of its axis, and means for moving said cylinder in the direction opposite to the direction imparted to the cylinder under the influence of pressure rluid admitted to its interior, said lastnamed means loosely engaging said cylinder so that upon release oi pressure fluid from the interior of the cylinder the latter together with the electrode may move freely toward the other electrede and so that said means do not interfere with the guidance of the cylinder by said stationary means.

3. In a welding device, in combination, a first power means having connection with and eXerting a constant resilient force tending to move a movable electrode away from its companion electrode, a second power means arranged to act in opp sition to said iirst power means and having `greats; force 'than the rst power means for forcing said electrode inward toward its companion electrode, and stop means for limiting the outward movement or" said second power means in the electrode separating direction, said stop means being adjustable for the stop position and also selectively providing further outward movement of the second power means, said second power means being associated with the electrode and said first power means by a one-way driving connection.

4. A welding device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said stop means comprises a third power means which exerts greater force than either of said first two power means.

5. In a welding device, in combination, a movable electrode having movement relative to a companion electrode, a rst reciprocable pneumatic motor having a rst power part connected to said movable electrode, a second reciprocable pneumatic motor having a second power part engageable by a one-way driving connection with said rst power part, means for continuously applying a source of pressure fluid to said first power part to urge said movable electrode outward, means for periodically applying a source of pressure iiuid to said second power part to urge said movable electrode inward, said second power part having superior power to overcome the power of said rst power part in moving said electrode inward, and a third movable power part associated with said second power part and having still greater power and capable of moving a limited distance only in the electrode closing direction, stop means or adjusting the inward limit of movement ci said third power part, and means for selectively applying a source of pressure fluid to said third power part to move it inward to the limit permitted by said stop means.

MATTHEW J. MANNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,067,363 Waeschle Jan. 12, 1937 2,286,104 Platz June 9, 1942 2,293,393 Humphrey Aug. 18, 1942 2,312,939 Stieglitz Mar. 2, 1943 2,313,941 Humphrey et al. Mar. 16, 1943 2,329,851 Platz Sept. 21, 1943 2,331,537 Clank Oct. l2, 1943 

